Not currently on display at the V&A

Chowke

Painting
ca. 1823 (made)
Artist/Maker
Chambers, Charles (Sir) (artist)
Place of origin
Bombay (made)

This is one of a sequence of paintings which depicts the journey by boat across the Mumbai harbour to the Panvel jetty, then to Kapoli, up the Bhor Ghat to Lonavla and onwards to Pune.

Here we see a view of the Western Ghats from the Chauke. The mountain range includes the popular landmark the ‘Duke’s nose’ on the left. This is named after the Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), whose distinctive nose it resembles. The artist was obviously charmed by the variety of rock formations topping the hills of the Ghats, and the beautiful champa (frangipani) tree in bloom.


Object details

Categories
Paintings
SCRAN
Object type
Painting
TitleChowke (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Pencil and watercolour on paper
Pencil
Watercolour
Painting
Brief description
Chowke, by Charles Harcourt Chambers, painting, watercolour on paper, India, 1824-28
Physical description
View of Chauk, located between Panvel and the Bhor Ghat in Bombay, including the exact likeness of a Champa tree with its sweet scented flowers. The flowers of the Champa, or Plumeria rubra (also known as Frangipani), come in clusters with soft velvety petals in a large variety of color combinations. It is also known as the Pagoda tree or the Temple tree and is well-known throughout India.
Dimensions
  • Length: 20cm
  • Width: 26.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
"Chowke. The Chumpea tree sweet scented flowers an exact likeness bark and all." (English; recto; pencil)
Gallery label
This is the view of the Western Ghats from the Chauke. The mountain range includes the popular landmark the 'Duke's nose' on the left. This is named after the Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), whose distinctive nose it resembles. Chambers was obviously charmed by the variety of rock formations topping the hills of the Ghats, and the beautiful champa (frangipani) tree in bloom.
Object history
This image comes from the first of three albums of paintings and drawings by Sir Charles Harcourt Chambers (1789-1828). A pencilled note on the first volume reads 'Hermitage pictures', 'Hermitage' being the name of Chambers' house in Bombay. A note in the thrid album reads: 'Paintings of Sir Charles Chambers Chief Justice of Bombay grandfather of Margaret Whidborne date about 1823'. These albums contain paintings, pen-and-ink drawings, and pencil sketches of views in India.
Subjects depicted
Trees
Landscapes
Summary
This is one of a sequence of paintings which depicts the journey by boat across the Mumbai harbour to the Panvel jetty, then to Kapoli, up the Bhor Ghat to Lonavla and onwards to Pune.

Here we see a view of the Western Ghats from the Chauke. The mountain range includes the popular landmark the ‘Duke’s nose’ on the left. This is named after the Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), whose distinctive nose it resembles. The artist was obviously charmed by the variety of rock formations topping the hills of the Ghats, and the beautiful champa (frangipani) tree in bloom.
Bibliographic references
  • Rohatgi P. and Parlett G., assisted by Imray S. and Godrej P. Indian Life and Landscape by Western Artists: Paintings and Drawings from the Victoria and Albert Museum, 17th to the early 20th century. Published by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai, in association with V&A, London, 2008. ISBN 81-901020-9-5. p. 218, pl. 32
  • Patel, Divia; Rohatgi, Pauline and Godrej, Pheroza, "Indian Life and Landscape by Western Artists: an exhibition of paintings and drawings from the 17th to the early 20th century organised by the V&A and CSMVS". Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai and Victoria and Albert Museum, 2008, ISBN:81-901020-8-7 p. 46
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.21:8-1994

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 6, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O76096/chowke-painting-chambers-charles-sir/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest